Niki Feijen's haunting images of abandoned houses

Haunting images of abandoned farm houses

Dutch photographer and urban exploration specialist Niki Feijen goes behind "do not enter" signs on dilapidated houses to document furniture, clothes, and other ornaments left behind by their former owners. His eerie HDR images reveal remnants of life in rooms across western Europe that are now left to decay. Frozen in time, it's hard not to imagine the people that once occupied the spaces.

'Fakin' All Over' - was, if I remember properly, a british Rock'n Roll tune in the mid-sixties ;-)And this too was my first thought when I went on viewing these photographs (photographs?) twice with some more time to consider what was going on here.The HDR-style is obvious, but I think, this is a matter of taste: probably you will like it or not.What really disturbs me, is the uninhibited application of decoration plus photoshopping. It looks, as if the author went through a garage-sale and then carefully positioned the findings in his arrangements. And I really doubt, if any of the destroyed ceilings was found 'on location'. What disturbs a little, is the enormous 'Volumen-Aberration' seen in these pictures - i.e. a quadratic object at the corner of a picture becomes rectangular. - Could have been solved easily.To the Editors of DPReview: why do you publish such an emotionally pimped text, while presumably anyone of you is able to look through the above mentioned fakes?

"What really disturbs me, is the uninhibited application of decoration..."Exactly! The same can be said about his website.Makes me wonder who is the audience he is running after.He needs to understand the audience that prefers this taste are not at all interested in a subject called "urban exploration"

I totally agree - way too heavy use of HDR. You could almost take a photo of any old bedroom with old wallpaper and make it look like it has been abandoned for 30 years if you process the photos this much.

As I clicked through, I too had a growing feeling that many of these shots have been "posed". Over the years in my professional life, I've often had to enter long locked up or "lived-in eccentrically" homes. In such circumstances, I've never found rooms in such orderly and ideal photographic condition.

Yes, they are obviously staged. In some of the images clothes are hanging on the walls and shoes stand orderly beside the beds. It is highly unlikely with such an order in abandoned houses.

I have nothing against that - and as I have said - I like the images.

What disturbs me is the totally random mix of signals you get when looking at the images. Some rooms are totally clean and looks like a room in an eccentric persons hous and some look just dirty and abandoned and some like a mix ... and one just shows a radio ... and of course the totally misplaced image with humans draped in whit. What was that for?

I miss the red thread ... or at least some grouping in different themes.

I try to not limit myself with biased general opinions. Its the same with music and photography arts and books. If I like it I like it. If I dont I dont. No matter what technique or genre that is used.

To make an interesting image you have to do something. This "thing" can be an interesting subject or an interesting interpretation.

One way to make an interesting interpretation might be to exaggerate. You might increase contrast or saturation. Or you can do HDR. Or you can use some other technique to enhance.

Generally (but far from always) a landscape or architectural or interior image is rather bland if you just take it and leave it as it is. Usually something has to be done.

BTW - hate is a feeling. So - if it triggers hate in you it must do something right :)

And if you are going to stage these shots, which really seems to be the case, why not just go 100% fake? I'm sure there are folks in Hollywood and elsewhere who could put together some really top notch abandoned home scenes.

I think this is excellent work and I can (and will) review the photographers website for hours. The treatment to the photos seems appropriate if you think about the lighting available in the scenes. These images NEEDED to be tonemapped to bring out all that amazing decay (that is what these images are all about - decay of what was once beautiful) in the shadows and reveal the mystery of the rooms. I find myself thinking about the last day the original occupants were there, and why they left in the hurried fashion it appears they had. As for those who commented on "staged" scenes and trespassing, here are my thoughts. A respectable Urbex follows 3 rules - don't touch anything, don't take anything and don't get caught. If a location is unused, not maintained and unoccupied, it's "open" for exploring at your own risk. I'm jealous that I'll never stand where the photographer stood.

My thoughts exactly. I do some urban exploration myself and it's virtually impossible to get enough dynamic range to bring out the needed details that make these locations so interesting without the help of HDR. I do think the photographer could have eased up on the HDR effect somewhat but that's just personal taste.

I love urban exploration sites and have for years. Sadly I am too old to take part. One of the earliest sites photographed quite frequently was the old Danvers State Hospital (Mental) in Massachusetts. Thank God the images of it are natural and not HDR.

Who are you to say the subject matter has to be portrayed in only a certain way? That you don't like it, and say so, is fine. This isn't journalism where honesty and accuracy should matter more. This is art so judge the art and not the "correctness".

Usually, I hate HDR when used for landscapes.But here I like it. It gives a cartoonish look to the pictures.I do not agree with people that think a photography should have a natural look, always. A camera is not just a tool to record a "2D copy" of the "real" world faithfully. Not to say that a 2D copy CANNOT be a faithful copy.A camera, and the accompanying post-processing tools, is, more widely, a "picture-making" tool for creative people too...

Why must it be "envy and vitriol"? Tastes and opinions vary. What fun would it be if every photographer was in goose step? Some will like HDR and some won't. I don't see envy or vitriol. I have enjoyed the honest C+C.

@MakofotoI come from Europe and nobody leaves television and radio's behind in their house. I've seen many abandoned places, but never seen anything like this. This is so staged and so far from reality that these pictures do no right.

Is he is trespassing to get these photos? That concerns me more than anything. Did he get permission from the property owners to publish these images? I wouldn't want someone trespassing on my property to take pictures. It doesn't matter if I'm living there or not.

I can abandon my house but still own it. That doesn't give you the right to walk onto my property and start taking pictures. My point is, someone must own these properties...someone's estate, the government, whatever. Abandoned doesn't mean trespassing laws don't apply...not where I'm from.

"Haunting" is the right word, but the HDR was totally unnecessary. The stark reality of these homes would have had far more emotional clout. Even so ... the concept has been done many, many times before. Human beings are hard-wired to be attracted to the plight of others, but there's much more going on in the way of today's urban plight than empty homes, and the "newer" urban plights affect us all.

I think this is more important than the whole HDR issue. That too is an artistic choice, but setting these rooms up then calling it URBEX is misleading. These are not found they are staged. Might as well be done in a studio with proper lighting.

Yes, as far as I see it the HDR is just a choice, the viewer can like it or not, thats fine its their choice / opinion but the staging without being upfront about it to me is deceitful. I know its common but its still not something I like.

I'm not bothered by the HDRness of these shots but there is nowhere in my area homes that get abandoned "staged" like this. Who leaves a suit coat hanging on their armoire? Where I live, that would be a crack house and some drug dealer would be wearing that coat.

wonderful images. however, I too am split about the HDR look-alike technique, which, works better on some then on others. I can't help it but my brain always tries to read and interpret these type of images as paintings rather then photographs, which, imho, takes the "reality" of it away and makes it less interesting.

I can't believe people are coming on here to derail the article with trash-talk about a characteristic of these photos which is ENTIRELY subjective. The foundation of art is creativity, and respect for the artist. If you do not enjoy the art, kindly.. leave the room and close the door behind you. Some of these comments almost warrant a "who the __ are you?" retort.

I'm sick of looking at these features only to have it spoiled by what seems to be the majority here.Having said all of that...

I think the most frightening aspect of these images is the shadow of the people who once inhabited these places, and the technology which in my opinion is a perfect juxtaposition of the artificial and the natural cycles of life -that TV looks pristine, in comparison to the lifeless, aged facade of its surrounds.

You couldn't be more wrong. Nothing about art states agree or get out. An artist puts something out there and has no control over how it is received. This may come as a shock but every opinion posted here has just as much merit as your own. I have never encountered a posted sign at an gallery around the globe stating "you must like these or don't come in". Of all things the art world does not need big brother watching.

I completely agree with you! But this is not what I meant. It's rather the constant, unconstructive criticism that exists purely for argument. They have nothing to show for themselves. They present illogical points. I think, if people have the audacity to critique somebody, they should at least use some intellect in their response.Sure, this does not mean they can't critique, but surely a community like this could come of a little bit more mature.Some of the comments are completely disrespectful of others' viewpoints, and they try to substantiate theirs as fact.

Yes, I see how that could be misconstrued.Let me clarify. Kindly leave the room, and close the door behind you if you don't enjoy the art (and have nothing to offer).I mean I could turn to my colleague and say, "your methods are terrible", but what is gained from that?It's regressive at best.

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